​Vintage Watch Blog.

Thank you for reading my vintage watch blog. I am always looking for great blog ideas or questions about watches or men's style. If your question or situation is unique, I will choose it along with my answer to post on my blog. Thank you.

When Working with vintage watches, new discoveries, especially an entire category, is astonishing and fun. Recently, I purchase a Waltham Military Hack Watch, one that was contracted by the government during WW2 and issued for special purposes to a particular branch of the armed forces. Although fairly uncommon, I've seen similar pieces around. This one really struck me as it was practically new old stock with what appeared to its original strap. The polished surfaces, coined front and back edges, and black face with contrast hands and markers made this piece really stand out.

While examining the watch, what came to mind is this. Wow, this is the real deal. A real government issued military watch from WW2. While all the other tool watch manufacturers have to market their military legacies, either real or made up, these watches stand alone as the real military wristwatch. Most interesting about this category of vintage watches, is that there is little to no market for them. Great examples can be had for the $500 range or less. What? Is this just a little secret that only a few know about? These pieces seem to be rarer than a Rolex explorer of the same period and they can be bought at this price?

Keep your eye on these pieces. I don't tell the future very often, but I'm going to right now. These pieces are going to become highly prized collectors items and significantly rise in price in the next 10 years. I would bet my life on it. Okay, perhaps that's a bit too much to bet. But the bottom line is this, this category of vintage watches are hot and ready for a huge explosion in price.

A good watch accessory for people who purchase fine watches can be a best friend. Let's face it, you can spend thousands on a fine watch or a number of fine watches and it's nice to have some quality accessories for traveling, storage or simply keeping the watch safe and clean.

Our leather watch pouch is everything we wanted. There are a few requirements we had when thinking about offering pouches and finding an exceptional source. First, they had to be hand-crafted (hand cut, worked and stitched); second, they must be made in the USA and third, we wanted them to be high quality but simple in design.

Wristwatch Pouch

Pocket Watch Pouch

After dozens of calls and emails, looking at samples... finally we found the craftsman capable of making what we wanted and delivering a fine product. Hand-crafted in California, these pouches are worthy of storing any fine wristwatch or pocket watch and offers a decent level of protection against shock and the elements.

To introduce these pouches, we are offering them at a special price. Since they are hand-crafted, supplies are limited. You can check them out and read more about our watch pouches by visiting our watch pouch page. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email us or connect on social media.

Did you ever wonder how and when the classic three register and two pusher chronograph wrist watch we all know and love came into existence? I know I have - and if you're the type of guy that likes to know or tell the story behind your prized possessions, well let's just say this is a story you'll want to know.

This modern Zenith El Primero represents a classic three register and two pusher layout.

It all started with Universal Geneve. Universal claims to have created the worlds first chronograph wrist watch in 1917. These chronographs were fairly simply with only one register and a single pusher. Later came chronographs with two registers counting both elapsed seconds and minutes. It was Universal's partnership with Zenith and Martel Watch Co. which gave birth, in 1934, to the three register, two pusher chronograph we still see in today's modern masterpieces. Both Universal and Zenith had access to the movements developed in partnership with movement maker Martel - the watches were marketed as "Compax" meaning having three sub-dials.

It should not be a surprise, that this development in chronograph wrist watches had significant influence on what is available today.

Universal Geneve Cal 285 is the same used in Zenith Compax and produced in partnership with Martel.

In some more rare examples, a few other watch companies appeared to had got their hands on this movement as well. Before the famed house of Jaeger-LeCoultre, there was Jaeger and there was LeCoultre & Cie. Although the two companies collaborated since the early 1900s, it was not until 1937 when the two officially announced their alliance and became Jaeger-LeCoultre. This magnificent chronograph represents a very short time period in which Jaeger was not yet Jaeger -LeCoultre, and the birth of the Chronograph wrist watch with two pushers (1934). A tough to find collectors piece, this chronograph, circa 1934-1936, houses a historically significant chronograph movement developed and manufactured by Martel Watch Co. and most commonly seen in the Universal Geneve or Zenith Compax of the same period. Significant because it is the first chronograph wrist watch movement with three registers and two pushers - the classic layout we all have come accustomed to. It's unknown how Jaeger got their hands on this chronograph movement, but it is likely they purchased the movements in small quantities from Universal as some are noted to carry the Universal caliber number. A beautiful, robust column wheel chronograph, this Jaeger is in excellent vintage condition, including its original solid 18k gold case which measures approximately 34MM in diameter not including the crown or pushers.

Disclaimer: Any and all trademarks mentioned here are for descriptive purposes only and are the property of their respective owners. Adam Vintage Watch Co. and its owners and affiliates are not authorized agents for Rolex Watch Company and are not affiliated with them in any way.